A Touching Story

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A long time ago, there was
a huge apple tree.

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It loved a little boy very much. The boy
loved to come and play
around it everyday.

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The boy used to collect leaves from the
tree to make into a crown. He would act
like a King.

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The little boy also liked to
climb to the tree top.

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He loved to grab on to the tree branches
to swing like a monkey.

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The little boy loved to pluck the apples
from the tree. He would then eat them.

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He would often take a nap under the cool
shadow of the apple tree.

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He loved the tree and the tree
was so happy!

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The years passed.
Time went by…

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One day, the boy came back to the tree.
The tree said, “Come and play with me.”

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“I am no longer a kid. I do not play around a
tree anymore.
I want toys. I need money to buy them.

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The tree said, “Sorry, but I do not have
money…but you can pick all my apples and sell
them. So, you will have money.”
The boy was
so excited. He
grabbed all
the apples on
the tree and
left happily.
The tree was
happy.

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The boy never came back for a long
time after he had picked the apples.
The tree was sad.

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One day, the boy who had then grown into a
man, returned and the tree was excited.
“Come and play with me,” the tree said.

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 “I do not have time to play. I have to
work for my family. We need a house for
shelter. Can you help me?”

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“Sorry, but I do not have any house. But
you can chop off my branches to build
your house,” the tree said.

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 So the man cut all the
branches of the tree and
left happily.

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 The tree was glad to see him happy but
the man never came back for a long, long
time. The tree was again lonely and sad.

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One hot Summer day, the man returned
and the tree was delighted.
“Come and play with me!” the tree said

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“I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax
myself. Can you give me a boat?”
the man asked

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“Use my trunk to build your boat,” the tree said.
“You can sail far away and be happy.”

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So the man cut the tree trunk to
make a boat. He went sailing and
never showed up for a long time.

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The tree seemed to be happy but
the happiness was not real.

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Finally the man returned after many years. “Sorry,
my boy. But I do not have anything for you
anymore. No more apples for you…” the tree said.

“No
problem. I
do not
have any
teeth to
bite,” the
man
replied.

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“No more trunk for you to climb on,” the tree said.
“I am too old for that now,” the man said.

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“I really cannot give you anything…the only thing
left is my dying roots,” the tree said with tears.
“I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am
tired after all these years,” the man replied.

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 “Good! Old tree roots are the best place to
lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with
me and rest.”

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The man sat down and the tree was glad and
smiled with tears…

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Everybody has Apple Trees in his or her life.
And they are your parents…
No matter how busy you are, share some time
with your parents.

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 Reflections
* We owe a lot to our parents, many teachers, relatives and
friends who have given us their time, care and love through
the years.
* Filial piety and gratitude are noble and great spiritual
virtues to cultivate.
* We must show our gratitude to our parents and people who
care for us. Don’t hesitate. Don’t wait until it is too late.

With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin
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